Foreign athletes stole the show at the 25th Independence Anniversary Athletics Meeting at the Independence Stadium on Saturday, winning most of the events on offer.
Yateya Kambepera of Botswana won the double in the men’s sprints, taking both the 100m and 200m titles, but he was pushed all the way.
In an exciting 100m sprint, Kamberipa came first in 10,53 seconds, just beating Thando Roto of South Africa (10,64) to the line, while Namibia’s Ismael Tjiramba came third in 10,76.
The 200m was even closer and it took a photo finish to separate Kambepera and Namibia’s Even Tjiviju.
Kambepera however crossed the line first in 21,45 seconds with Tjiviju coming second in 21,51, while Namibia’s Basilius Karupu came third in 21,87.
Foreign athletes also dominated the women’s sprints with Loungo Matlhaku from Botswana winning the 100m and South Africa’s Justine Palframan winning the 200m.
A powerful surge over the final 30m saw Matlhaku winning the 100m sprint in 12,27 seconds, while Eilene Britz of Namibia came second in 12,56 and Caroline Kutzner of Namibia third in 12,67.
Palframan was a comfortable winner in the 200m, crossing the line in 23,43, while Christine Botlogetswe from Botswana came second in 25,35 and Caroline Kutzner of Namibia third in 26,30.
Zacharia Kamberuka was in brilliant form to win the men’s 400m in the fastest time seen in Namibia for many years.
The long-striding Kamberuka shot to the front from the start and gradually pulled away from the rest of the field to win in a great time of 45,95 seconds.
Namibia’s Ernst Narib came second in 47,68 and Namibia’s Francis Uatema third in 48,31.
Kamberuka’s time was faster than the long-standing Namibian record of 46,14 seconds that Daniel Haitembu set way back in 1980, but second-placed Narib is getting closer to this mark.
“I know I can break that record. My times are coming down and I’ll be going on a training camp in Potchefstroom next month so Im sure Ill go under 46 seconds soon,” he said.
Desiree Kandovazu was the only Namibian to win a race when she won the women’s 400m in 58,85 seconds. Compatriots Henryke Garbers came second in 59,05 and Klaudia Moses third in 59,23.
Rynardt van Rensburg of South Africa won the men’s 800m in 1:50,33, followed by Namibia’s Daniel Nghipandulwa (1:41,59) and Reinhold Thomas (1:51,97).
Some of Namibia’s top Paralympic athletes also competed at the meet, but due to the few participating athletes, they all competed together although they were not in the same categories.
Lahja Ishitile won the women’s 100m sprint in 13,49, with Hambeleleni Makando coming second in 14,11 and Rosa Mandjoro third in 14,48. Namibia’s ‘Golden Girl’ Johanna Benson could only manage a fourth place in 14,75.
Johannes Nambala won the 200m Paralympic Dash in 22,81, with Elias Ndimulunde coming second in 23,17 and Ananias Shikongo third in 24,16.
